Unofficial mods bring USB C ports to AirPods and AirPods Max for under $50

Ken Pillonel, who publishes videos as Exploring the Simulation on YouTube, has returned with a new USB Type-C-themed project for more Apple products. For context, Pillonel was the engineer who first installed a USB Type-C port in an iPhone. Following that, they created an adapter for the AirPods Pro that introduced USB Type-C connectivity years before Apple did so officially.

However, the latter adapter required extensive modification of the AirPods Pro's case that may be beyond the capabilities of some people. To combat this, Pillonel has developed a new non-destructive mod that brings USB Type-C connectivity to all AirPods and AirPods Pro 2 units. As the video below shows, Pillonel has achieved this by 3D printing a structure with a Lightning to Type-C PCB that an AirPods' charging case slides into.

Similarly, Pillonel has also developed an adapter for the original AirPods Max (curr. $399 on Amazon). In short, this adapter simply slots into the AirPods Max's lightning connector and is freely removable when needed. Currently, Pillonel charges CHF 39.90 (~$47) for his AirPods Max adapter, including taxes. By contrast, his AirPods protective cases range from CHF 24.90 (~$29.11) to CHF 34.90 (~$41), depending on the AirPods model chosen.